It happened again. So much has happened in the music world these past few days that I've had to split it into TWO POSTS. Well, I'm not complaining - more music for your ears. Here are the first bits of news...

RIHANNA NEW SINGLE "AS REAL AS YOU AND ME"
Rihanna has recently been talking about the release of her new album and how it will be "worth the wait" but she couldn't let us wait without giving us something to whet our appetites. This single won't actually be on her album but it appears on the soundtrack for new movie Home. Great ballad. Have a listen here.


BLUR NEW MUSIC VIDEO "THERE ARE TOO MANY OF US"
A second single from Blur's upcoming album The Magic Whip and now we can get more of a taste of what the overall album might sound like. However, this is quite a bit different from the first single that they put out here so I couldn't make any accurate predictions at this time. Currently, I'm not enjoying this single as much as their last but it's definitely not a bad song. Check it out here.


MALLORY KNOX NEW MUSIC VIDEO "GETAWAY"
I really, really liked this sophomore album from Mallory Knox and each of the singles that they've chosen to date from it have been great. However, I honestly thought that this would have been a single sooner - huge belter. Watch the cool new video here.


TAME IMPALA NEW SINGLE "LET IT HAPPEN"
I've loved each of Tame Impala's records before this upcoming one, but when I heard that this latest album would be a little bit more "rock-influenced", I was actually more interested. As such, I had no idea what to expect from the first single here. Still the classic psychedelic Tame but I see what they meant - this is a bit of a new leaf.


CURB NEW SINGLE "OUTSIDE"
Since seeing Curb at last year's One Beat Weekender here I didn't actually expect to hear much more from them any time soon if I'm honest but I'm glad that I did - this single here is great. I feel like they've had better songs but this is still a cool summer tune and it would be awesome live.


RAE SREMMURD NEW MUSIC VIDEO "THROW SUM MO"
I've been listening to this single since before the album - Sremm Life - even came out in February so I wasn't too fussed about having Rae Sremmurd put out a video for it or anything but just checked it out because I like the song so much. The video is cool, but I don't think that I'll make much of an effort to watch it again though. Have a watch here.


DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE NEW MUSIC VIDEO "LITTLE WANDERER" 
I'm excited to listen to this full record when it drops on the 31st of March. This music video is surprisingly pretty basic and uninteresting for DCFC in my opinion but the song is brilliant! Definitely a track I'll be listening to long after I've overplayed the record. However, again, I doubt I'd make an effort to re-watch the video here.


LIGHT YOU UP NEW MUSIC VIDEO "ALL WE'VE EVER KNOWN"
Another new album that boasts great instrumentals and vocals, if you haven't already - give Light You Up a listen. This is the lead single from it, so it's been out for quite a while but this music video actually made me like it a little bit more. So simple, but entertaining. Check it out here.


EGO ELLA MAY NEW SINGLE "HOW FAR"
Even though Ego Ella May has reassured us that she's working on putting out something big, there's only so many tantalising single releases that a fan can endure! I hope that this is the last before she releases her masterpiece. Have a listen to the tune here.


WHILE SHE SLEEPS NEW MUSIC VIDEO "OUR LEGACY"
The full album is actually streaming now over at wssofficial.com but this is the latest single from WSS's incredible (8/10) album. I whole-heartedly suggest checking out both. The lads are sounding better than ever! This is right now one of my favourite albums out this year. Check out the music video here.


ALBUMS ALBUMS ALBUMS
Speaking of albums, a lot of awesome records have dropped in the past few days. Of course the first mention has to go to Kendrick's masterpiece - To Pimp A Butterfly - pure gold. As well as that, Tinashe has also released a new mixtape Amethyst. Finally, Earl Sweatshirt, Tonight Alive and Bloc Party have all announced new albums on the horizon. Stoked.


FOREVER CULT NEW SINGLE "WINTER'S GLOW"
Clue Records keep spoiling us. Between Allusondrugs, NARCS and of course Forever Cult I'm smiling at least once a week at something awesome they've done. Now this song here has me smiling again AND it'll be available for free download on the 30th of March... like I said - spoilt.


MUSE NEW SINGLE "PSYCHO"
In time for their killer tour that they're embarking on with Marmozets in tow, comes this gem of a Muse single. Definitely a band that I would love to see before I kick the bucket and with singles like this on their back I can vouch that when I do see them, it'll definitely be one to remember.

Last week (14/03/14), I went down to Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath (a place that I'm finding myself far too often), to see As Elephants Are. I can't remember the last time I was in a room with so many rolled up t-shirt sleeves, oversized jumpers and Fenders - you could just smell the indie. Songs from Bombay Bicycle Club, The xx and Tame Impala playing during the intervals said enough. I'd never heard of either of the support acts prior to the gig so was looking for something to catch my attention.

New Bays stepped on stage and definitely caught my attention. They smashed their (surprisingly long) set. I knew that they must've been a local band - the crowd was absolutely loving it - a few brave souls dancing at the front and everyone else bopping about and swaying in time with the music. Their final song "They'll Never Know" really left a lasting impression. It was a tough support act to follow so I was hoping that second support act LIME's set didn't turn sour (pardon the pun)...

Considering how indie the whole atmosphere was, the promoters made a bit of a mistake booking LIME for this gig. They came thrashing in with their slightly more noise rock/punk fast paced riffs and startled the crowd. Before the end of the third song they'd managed to clear out at least a quarter of the room, one lad taking out earplugs as he left (not very hardcore \m/). LIME's set wouldn't have been out of place at last week's Eagulls gig but for this gig it was hard for a noise rock sounding band not to stick out like a sore thumb. Although they were a little sloppy at times they played a solid set and other people's opinions aside - I actually liked them. Kind of timid, but they just got on with it and played good music. Always nice to come to a gig and get something that you weren't expecting.

As Elephants Are came on soon after and definitely showed us why they were the ones headlining. They were super confident and just great really. Even though New Bays drew a bigger and more enthusiastic crowd that night, As Elephants Are smashed it. Also, despite a bit of feedback from the lead singer's two mics - yes, two - there was just a great vibe. They played through hits "Crystal" and "Kingdom" amongst others, and their drummer!! I have never seen a drummer play a right handed kit, left handed and hit every single beat so perfectly - even whilst having somebody adjusting their kick drum mid set. All in all it was just a really good set. The crowd was really more merry than hyped I'd say, but it was nice.

Overall Rating - 7/10


Here are some pictures from the night...